The Importance of ISO 17065 Lab Accreditation
Consumers are more likely to purchase products or services from the brands and companies they know they can trust. When a product or service is certified by an accredited organization, people know they can trust its safety and quality. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is part of the global specialized standardization system, and it helps to develop international guides and standards for organizations to remain compliant and benefit their customers.
ISO 17065 accreditation ensures that testing labs and certification bodies perform quality testing with integrity, knowledge and efficiency. ISO 17065 accredited organizations are fully equipped to correctly test products, services and processes to ensure they meet international standards.
Working with an ISO 17065 accredited testing lab helps companies deliver high-quality products and services to their customers that meet global regulations. It provides opportunities to consistently improve processes, services and products so companies can stay a step ahead of the competition. Trusting ISO 17065-certified bodies to handle testing helps organizations develop reputations as brands that people can trust. We created this guide to help you understand more about ISO 17065 standards and certification.
What Is ISO 17065 Compliance?
ISO 17065 standards ensure that certification bodies, inspection bodies and testing labs correctly certify service, product and process quality. It assures consumers that the services or products they purchase meet international standards. To earn ISO 17065 accreditation, organizations must prepare the required documentation and maintain quality management systems.
ISO spans a wide variety of industries. One of its accreditations is ISO 17065 certification, which ensures that an accreditation body is competent enough to certify services, products and processes based on quality. ISO 17065 certification verifies the quality and regulatory standards compliance of the following:
- Services: Services are the intangible results of an activity conducted between a supplier and a customer.
- Products: Products include process results such as hardware, software, processed materials or services.
- Processes: Processes are interrelated or linked activities that change inputs into outputs. Some examples include food production processes, manufacturing processes and welding engineering processes.
Testing labs, certification issuing bodies and inspection bodies can earn ISO 17065 accreditation. The following organizations and parties find ISO 17065 useful:
- Government authorities and non-government organizations
- Clients of certification bodies
- The accredited organization’s customers
- Public members such as consumers
What Are the ISO 17065 Requirements Involved in the Accreditation Process?
Testing labs and certification bodies must meet all applicable international standards requirements in the certification. To meet these standards and earn ISO 17065 certification, they must undergo an accreditation process, which includes multiple requirements and necessary documentation.
1. Documentation
The documents required for ISO 17065 include the following elements:
- Policy
- System procedure
- Standard operating procedure (SOP)
- System manual
- Mission and vision
- Objectives
- Records
- Forms
- Formats
- Checklist
2. Resources Requirements
Resources requirements require testing labs and certification bodies to provide details about their personnel. This includes their tasks and responsibilities during the accreditation process. It ensures that certification bodies and testing labs have knowledgeable staff who can perform testing of the highest quality.
3. Structural Requirements
Due to structural requirements, ISO 17065-certified bodies and testing labs must also provide details about their personnel’s responsibilities and authorities in different areas. They must follow principles and policies to prevent impartiality in certification processes and activities.
4. General Requirements
ISO 17065 accreditation also has some general requirements, which include the following:
- Contractual matters
- Legal matters
- License use
- Certificate use
- Certification agreements
- Impartiality remarks
- Confidentiality agreements
- Nondiscriminatory conditions
5. Management System Requirements
To obtain ISO 17065 accreditation, organizations must also maintain a quality management system (QMS). This means that they must complete management system tasks while meeting requirements in the following areas:
- Management review
- Control of records and documents
- Management system documentation
- Corrective and preventive actions
6. Process Requirements
Process requirements apply to certification schemes in the following areas:
- Application requirements
- Certification body
- Review processes
- Surveillance
- Evaluation
- Appeals and complaints
- Certification decision and documentation
17065 Accreditation Process Steps
Organizations must follow certain steps to earn the 17065 accreditation. These steps include the following:
1. Application
The first step in the accreditation process is to apply. An organization must fill out an application form and pay any required fees along with its application. The application step requires documentation that an organization meets the requirements for accreditation.
2. Internal Audit
Before applying for an on-site visit by accreditation officers, an organization must complete an internal audit. During this audit, the organization’s team examines the facility, staff and processes for any nonconformities. They must also correct any nonconformities before their on-site assessment.
3. On-Site Assessment
During an on-site assessment, accreditation officers visit the organization’s facility to assess and verify its competency, consistency and impartiality in its certification process. Officers evaluate each organization by completing the following activities:
- Reviewing files and documents
- Interviewing
- Testing performance review and proficiency
- Measuring and validating audits
- Assessing offices
- Witnessing examinations, assessments or tests the organization performs
4. Corrective Actions
After their assessment, accreditation officers develop a report with details of their evaluation. They determine if the organization fully and correctly meets all the required standards. The organization then has an opportunity to correct any nonconformities before the accreditation officers complete a follow-up assessment.
5. Certification
After correcting any nonconformities and taking corrective actions, an organization can undergo reassessment. If accreditation officers find that the organization meets all of the ISO 17065 accreditation requirements, it will receive certification.
Comparison Between ISO 17065 Accreditation and ISO 17020 Accreditation
The ISO 17065 standard and ISO 17020 standard are similar with one significant difference. ISO 17020 accreditation specifically applies to organizations that inspect and test product conformity to a design or standard. This accreditation ensures that inspection companies have the required equipment and qualifications to inspect products correctly. It also verifies that inspection companies:
- Maintain integrity
- Ensure valid results without external pressures or bias
- Effectively manage conflicts of interest
- Implement the industry’s internationally recognized best practices
While ISO 17065 accreditation certifies organizations to test the quality of products, processes and services, ISO 1720 accreditation is for organizations that only test products.
The Benefits of Being an ISO 17065 Accredited Lab
ISO 17065 accreditation is a proven business credential that increases customer satisfaction, reduces operating costs and enhances sustainable growth. ISO 17065 accreditation can help organizations gain more business, and it provides the following benefits:
- It helps organizations improve their productivity, effectiveness and efficiency.
- The process allows labs to become aware of their compliance performance and certification competency.
- ISO 17065 guidelines improve record-keeping and data analysis skills.
- It increases confidence in auditors and certification bodies based on competency and their ability to certify management systems.
- ISO 17065 accreditation increases customers’ confidence and trust in the organization, which places it a step ahead of its competition.
- It builds a certification body’s credibility, recognition and reputation in the global market.
The Benefits of Using an ISO/IEC 17065 Accredited Lab for Your Testing Needs
Using an ISO/IEC accredited lab for your testing needs is the best way to obtain accurate, valid results that you can trust. ISO 17065 accreditation requires certification bodies to follow strict regulations in their testing procedures so they can provide unbiased assessments.
When you work with an ISO 17065 accredited lab, you can expect to improve your processes, services and products to deliver quality products to your customers and develop a positive reputation to attract a larger customer base. Working with an ISO 17065 accredited lab has the following benefits:
1. Competency
ISO 17065 verifies the competency of labs. Trusting an ISO 17065 accredited lab for your testing means you ensure your product is tested by knowledgeable and experienced individuals. An ISO 17065 accredited lab will perform proper testing that meets all required standards.
2. Valid Results
When you work with an ISO 17065-certified lab, you can rest assured that your test results will be accurate and valid. Accredited labs utilize quality control measures and thorough processes to produce accurate results. An accredited lab will provide you with detailed final reports that summarize their findings and include any uncertainties in measurements. When you receive valid results from an accredited lab, you can avoid spending time and money on retesting.
3. Certification
An ISO 17065 accredited lab provides product and process certification and management systems certification, so you obtain a complete assessment rather than a partial one. It evaluates the intent, method and result rather than a simple review of the result alone.
4. Regulatory and Quality Achievements
You can certify your product’s quality components when you undergo testing by an ISO 17065 accredited lab. ISO 17065 accredited labs test critical factors so you can reach goals such as meeting your customers’ requirements and delivering high-quality products. This allows you to achieve a positive status and product consistency to boost your marketing and gain more customers.
5. Independent and Impartial
ISO 17065 standards require accredited labs to be independent and impartial in their testing operations. When it comes to reporting and evaluating, accredited labs must remain impartial to ensure fair and equal results free of bias. With centralized control and strong management, these labs can provide consistent reporting structures and accurate results.
6. Knowledge of Product and Process Scopes
ISO 17065 requires accredited labs to understand product and process scopes for the testing they perform. This means they must be knowledgeable about what you produce and have the proper technical knowledge to identify risks and challenge your processes.
7. Continuous Improvement
An ISO 17065 accredited lab helps you continuously improve your products, processes and services. ISO 17065 requires organizations to develop and implement corrective actions when needed so they can consistently improve their operations.
Testing with an ISO 17065 accredited lab ensures you reach a certain level of process quality and continue to improve from that level. It also helps you maintain trustworthiness by ensuring you produce what you say you will and provide products or services that your customers expect.
8. Reputation
Delivering high-quality products or services to your customers while meeting necessary regulations in your processes will help you develop a positive reputation. ISO 17065 accreditation proves a company’s competency, trustworthiness and quality. When an ISO 17065 accredited lab tests your products or services, it builds trust in existing and new customers’ perceptions of your business.
Is VTEC Labs ISO Accredited?
VTEC Labs is ISO accredited. An ISO-accredited lab can help you minimize risks and costs with high-quality testing. VTEC Labs can meet your testing needs with ISO 17065 accreditation and certification to other standards to ensure the most accurate results. In addition to ISO 17065, we also have the following additional ISO accreditations:
1. ISO 17025 Accreditation
ISO 17025 accreditation certifies calibration laboratories to test products, sampling and calibration. This accreditation proves labs meet global standards for validity and operational competence and ensures labs maintain confidentiality, privacy, impartiality and quality management systems.
When an organization is ISO 17025 accredited, it must have the best equipment, staff, facilities, support services and systems to carry out high-quality testing. As an ISO 17025 accredited lab, VTEC Labs carry out 11 core processes to maintain efficiency and ensure correct documentation to control records.
2. ISO 17020 Accreditation
VETC Labs is also ISO 17020 accredited, which means we are equipped and qualified to provide accurate product inspections with valid results. We apply the industry’s internationally recognized best practices and ensure valid results by maintaining integrity and managing conflicts of interest.
3. Additional Accreditations
VTEC Labs also meets accreditations and standards from the following organizations:
- American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
- United States Navy
- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)
- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
- Various city housing departments
- European Standard (EN)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- ASTM International
Contact VTEC Labs for Testing Services
High-quality product and service testing ensures companies deliver quality products to their customers and comply with regulations. When you work with an ISO 17065 accredited lab for your testing needs, you receive testing services held to high standards.
VTEC Labs is known for meeting international standards and providing quality services in compliance with global regulations. Your customer base will grow as you consistently deliver the products and services they expect, opening your business to more marketing opportunities and a wider audience. We offer various testing services that span many industries.
Trust an accredited lab for your testing needs to ensure your company’s operations and products meet regulations. Request a free quote or Contact VTEC Labs to learn more about our testing services and how we can help your company develop a trusted reputation and build your customer base.